Shalane Flanagan a rabbit for record-setters

Monday

Apr 21, 2014 at 8:08 PMApr 22, 2014 at 12:34 AM

BOSTON — While Shalane Flanagan didn't post a victory at home, she played no small role in making sure a 12-year-old Boston Marathon record was shattered. From the start to the 20th mile, the pride of Marblehead set a blistering pace, occasionally yielding the lead to take a refreshment before surging back ahead. The pace was difficult to sustain, but she has no regrets.

By John Conceison TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

BOSTON — While Shalane Flanagan didn't post a victory at home, she played no small role in making sure a 12-year-old Boston Marathon record was shattered.

From the start to the 20th mile, the pride of Marblehead set a blistering pace, occasionally yielding the lead to take a refreshment before surging back ahead. The pace was difficult to sustain, but she has no regrets.

"Three years ago, (Boston Marathon great Joan Benoit Samuelson) told me to run my own race," said Flanagan, who finished seventh in a personal-best 2:22:02. "Today, I just wanted to go out and do just that and see if it was good enough to win the olive wreath. It was a no-excuse day, with absolutely amazing conditions."

A pack of six trailing Flanagan caught her at the Newton hills, then defending champion Rita Jeptoo took off after Cleveland Circle. The Kenyan maintained record pace, even turning in a 4:47 for the 24th mile and finished in 2:18:57, the first of four to surpass Margaret Okayo's previous mark of 2:20:43 in 2002.

Runner-up Buzunesh Deba of Ethiopia also broke 2:20 by a tenth of a second, and countrywoman Mare Dibaba (2:20:35) and Kenya's Jemima Jelegat Sumgong (2:20:41) also bested Okayo's record.

"It was like fire when we started," said Jeptoo, who became the seventh woman to win three Bostons, her other coming in 2006.

At the midway point, Flanagan, who last year finished fourth in Boston, passed the half-marathon split in Wellesley in 1:09:21, 56 seconds better than Okayo's half in '02.

"I literally ran as hard as I could," she said. "I know there were some aggressive splits, but I knew this field was really talented, and it was going to take a really superb day.

"But I'll take away from this race a three-minute (personal best) and more, so that's a good step forward," added Flanagan, who has vowed her intention to become a Boston regular. "Seventh in a 2:22:02 is not what I dreamed of, but it's certainly a step in the right direction."

The circumstances surrounding last year's victory left Jeptoo in dejection. "For me, I'm happy after winning this one," Jeptoo beamed, "to support the people in Boston, that we are together."

American Desiree Linden placed 10th in 2:23:54.

American repeat

The national anthem did play after the women's wheelchair finish as 25-year-old Tatyana McFadden repeated as champion, winning in 1:35:06. McFadden, who trailed early, broke away from the field after mile 15. Wakako Tsuchida of Japan was second in 1:37:24.

McFadden wore a special singlet honoring Martin Richard, the 8-year-old killed in last year's bombings, and his sister Jane, who lost a leg. She dedicated her effort to all who were affected by the tragedy. "I carried everyone in my heart, and this race was for them."

After finishing second last year, Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa won his first Boston since 2010 and his 10th overall, in 1:20:36.

Japan's Kota Hokinoue edged countryman Masazumi Soejima for second in a photo finish, both clocking 1:21:14.

Doctor on the run

Neel Tarneja, who is finishing up an anesthesiology residency at UMass Memorial Medical Center, broke 2½ hours for the first time despite being troubled with cramps from the 20th mile.

"I was a little disappointed, but overall I can't be too disappointed with my personal best," said Tarneja, who finished 82nd overall in 2:29.04.

Last fall, he placed 45th at the New York City Marathon in 2:30:25.

Through the first half of the race, Tarneja, 31, was at a 2:26 pace but actually had to stop briefly during mile 23 because of the cramps. "I had the same issue in New York, but not nearly this bad."

Tarneja prevailed against older brother Ankur, a lawyer in Southern California, in what is among the most talented brother marathon tandems in the country. Ankur, now 32, crossed in 2:31:14, good for 109th overall.

"That's one hilly marathon," said Ankur, who has run a 2:29:30 in Berlin. "He was the better athlete today. I just had to let him do his thing."

"I thought he was going to catch me eventually," said Neel, who did not see Ankur at all during the race. "It was definitely exciting running against him, and it would've been nice if we could've run together, but you've got to run your own race."

For now, the rematch is planned for the Chicago Marathon in October.

Faces in the Crowd

Among 2014 Central Mass. Faces in the Crowd finishers and others featured this month: Worcester State graduate Eric Dutton (4:32:09), Tina O'Donnell of Charlton (5:02:57), Bill Keeler of North Grafton (5:11:01), Kelly Williamson of Sterling (5:51:21) and Kevin White of Bolton (5:51:22).

In their 32nd and final Boston Marathon together, Rick and Dick Hoyt finished in 7:37:33.